Effect of calcium ions on the evolution of biofouling by Bacillus subtilis in plate heat exchangers simulating the heat pump system used with treated sewage in the 2008 Olympic Village

Heat pump systems using treated sewage water as the heat source were used in the Beijing Olympic Village for domestic heating and cooling. However, considerable biofouling occurred in the plate heat exchangers used in the heat pump system, greatly limiting the system efficiency. This study investigates the biofouling characteristics using a plate heat exchanger in parallel with a flow cell system to focus on the effect of calcium ions on the biofilm development. The interactions between the microorganisms and Ca2+ enhances both the extent and the rate of biofilm development with increasing Ca2+ concentration, leading to increased heat transfer and flow resistances. Three stages of biofouling development were identified in the presence of Ca2+ from different biofouling mass growth rates with an initial stage, a rapid growth stage and an extended growth stage. Each growth stage had different biofouling morphologies influenced by the Ca2+ concentration. The effects of Ca2+ on the biofouling heat transfer and flow resistances had a synergistic effect related to both the biofouling mass and the morphology. The effect of Ca2+ on the biofouling development was most prominent during the rapid growth stage.

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► With Ca2+, the growth of biofouling showed 3 stages with different development rates.
► Each growth stage corresponded to a characteristic biofouling morphology.
► Increase in Ca2+ concentration advanced the evolution of each stage.
► The effect of Ca2+ was most prominent in the rapid growing stage.
► The effect of Ca2+ on heat transfer and frictional resistances were synergistic.